Sure, Johnny Forzani was wearing a jersey and looked the part in Tuesday’s on-field workout at McMahon Stadium.

Rick Campbell was working for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a defensive-backs coach the first time he caught sight of Jonathan Hefney in action. At a tryout camp just outside Orlando, Fla.

“He understands the game,” the Calgary Stampeders’ defensive co-ordinator is saying, after everyone had scurried indoors following a clap or two of thunder mid-practice on Thursday morning. “Some guys can see the big picture, what’s going on across the field. I include him in that group. A lot of players, they’re just concerned with their own little world, their own little space.

“Hef’s curious. He wants to understand ‘Why?’ What is the offence doing? Why are they doing this particular thing at this particular time in a game? How do I better read a play? When’s the best time to jump a route?

“All those types of things. He wants to see the totality of the situation.

“And he just enjoys playing football. You could see that straight away. I know it might sound silly — ‘enjoys’ playing football — but there are some individuals who are true football junkies that just love to play. Love it. Practice. Games. Whenever. You come in contact with people in any facet of life who are like that: They truly enjoy coming to work every day.

“Hef’s one of those people.”

Jonathan Hefney, signed, sealed and delivered, marked his first day in red and white Tuesday. In making McMahon Stadium his destination of choice, the two-time Canadian Football League all-star and 2009 Eastern Division Outstanding Rookie admitted that Campbell’s presence here, as well as Stamps’ assistant GM John Murphy, another part of the Bomber brass that lured him north four years ago, factored into his decision.

“They were the guys who brought me in when I was sitting in Tennessee taking classes,” Hefney said. “I went to Florida and went to training camp.

“They brought me into Winnipeg, and the rest was history.”

Campbell, his previous and current mentor, is an unabashed fan.

“He can play multiple positions. And he commits with speed. I like that. If he sees something he’s not going to sit around and debate ‘Oh, gee, should I do this or should I do that ...’ He has conviction. He believes in himself, and he goes. He doesn’t dawdle. He doesn’t get caught in between.

“That type makes for good players.”

Good player, indisputably. But other factors come into play.

Hefney was charged with possession of 6.2 grams of marijuana in South Carolina prior to Bombers’ training camp opening up a few weeks ago. Somewhat unbelievably, he initially failed to report the incident to the team and a court date, which the 28-year-old said will be attended by his attorney, is set for down south Wednesday.

The Big Blue, who signed Hefney to a two-year contract extension in January, claimed their controversial decision to cut him loose Saturday (“Still doing (this), scratching my head,” lamented linebacker Johnny Sears when the news broke) was based largely on-field performance based, and not specifically the marijuana possession charge.

“I saw a drop-off in his play last year and then coming into this training-camp session, I felt it dropped off even farther,” Bomber head coach Tim Burke told the Winnipeg Free Press. “It just wasn’t as a good as it used to be.”

Whatever. Rick Campbell isn’t unduly concerning himself with anything other than the here and now. He isn’t a porter. He isn’t interested in anyone’s baggage.

“His first year in the league I worked with Hef, and my experience with him was very good. I judge people on my first-hand experiences with them. It’s about what he does here moving forward. He’s always been a good teammate. I know the guys in Winnipeg really enjoyed playing with him. That’s what I’m going off of.

“We’ve kept in contact through the years. We still say ‘Hello’ and that kind of stuff. And I’d be very surprised if he isn’t able to come in and contribute.”

Some might consider Jonathan Hefney a bit of a gamble. But in the old roulette wheel of pro sports, it’s really only playing with house money.

Calgary’s defence has developed into emerging force as is. It’s not as if there are gaping holes that desperately need to filled everywhere you look. If Hefney can suit up, fit in, and make the collective even fractionally better, they’re ahead of the game. If not, they find themselves really no further behind.

“He’s a proven player in this league,” says Rick Campbell, “but now he’ll be out to prove himself all over again. Because despite the fact that they’re familiar with him and his talent he knows he’s still the new guy on the block in Calgary. There’s a group of individuals who’ve been around here a while. He fully understands he has to earn their respect.

“It’s really a bonus that he’s here. We already have a bunch of good guys. We were happy with all of them. But if you get comfortable, if you don’t explore possibilities, that’s a mistake.

“The more good football players you have around, the better off you are. And he’s a good football player. Pretty simple when you think about it.”

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